Jean Prouvé 'Sitzmaschine' D80 "Grand Repos" for Tecta

Condition: Very good condition. The mechanism functions perfectly. The leather shows minimal signs of wear. Description: The Frenchman Jean Prouvé was a trained ornamental ironworker, as well as a self-taught architect and designer. Prouvé applied industrial manufacturing techniques to architecture and furniture design. Thanks to these innovative contributions, he is now considered one of the most significant pioneers of modern design. Prouvé dedicated a large part of his creative work to the design of furniture. As a trained ironworker, metal was his preferred material. Unlike the approach taken by the classic Bauhaus movement, Prouvé favored the use of bent sheet metal rather than tubular steel. Bolted and welded sheet metal became a defining aesthetic feature of his designs. His furniture was intended to be not only functional and visually appealing but also cost-effective to produce. These innovative designs were manufactured by his own company, Aluminium Française, in Nancy. In his hometown of Nancy, Prouvé—who had been a member of the French Resistance—even served briefly as mayor in 1944–45. The *Fauteuil de Grand Repos D80* offered here was originally designed by Jean Prouvé between 1928 and 1930 for his own private use. Known as a "machine chair" (*Sitzmaschine*) due to its complex mechanism, the armchair was reissued in the 1980s by Tecta in a strictly limited edition of 1,000 pieces. Jean Prouvé, who was named a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1950, passed away in 1984 in his hometown of Nancy.